At 15:34 3/20/2000 -0800, Thompson wrote:
>...
> I read that some disagree with some of the teaching methods. I was
>given one particular lesson that could have only been driven home in the
>manner it was presented. They could have given me the facts but NOT THE
>FEELING! and that feeling represented how a boy feels when he is
>treated in the same manner.
So you believe that it is important for someone actually be mistreated and
feel the mistreatment to learn not to mistreat someone? Or is it just
"better" that way? May God help the boy you try to teach the Ten
Commandments with this attitude!
I won't argue that many people strongly believe that the revulsion
instilled in a man for petty mistreatment by doing to them before they do
or as they did to boys is effective. It does seem to help some people to
wake up to the fact that it feels bad when they didn't think it did. I also
grant that the intended message, that we shouldn't demean, belittle, yell
at, or verbally abuse boys, is a good message. The message certainly has a
big emotional impact on some people. Along with that, there are a lot of
GOOD things that are done and taught (even with good methods) at NTC. I
grant you these things.
Now about the teaching methods: you are right when you say that some
disagree with them. I believe that Jesus Christ Himself is one of them. One
of the things that made Jesus most angry, besides turning a house of prayer
into a noisy marketplace, was hypocrisy: especially RELIGIOUS hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is saying one thing, and doing another. For example, taking
things from widows and orphans and misusing positions of authority, then
standing on a street corner and praying loudly just to look "holy" to men
really angered (and angers) Jesus Christ. Straining unclean gnats out of
their soup to observe the law about food better than anyone else, but then
harboring murder and adultery in their hearts, all the while believing that
they were better than others, hypocrites really offended Jesus and drew
criticism from them. Those religious folks who did what sounded good to
men, while hiding shameful acts, really drew sharp rebukes from the Son of
God. Jesus was kind and forgiving to the sinners who knew and admitted that
they were sinners, and who repented. Those who repented drew no sharp
criticism from Jesus, but encouragement and forgiveness.
I ask you: how can you tell someone not to abuse someone, then abuse them
just to emphasize your point, without being a hypocrite? I personally don't
think it can be done.
Jesus Christ is our example, and without a doubt, the greatest teacher
possible in human form. We have a great deal recorded about what He taught,
and what He did. No place is there any record in the Bible of Jesus doing
any such "teaching of a lesson" as the NTC-style humiliation of people to
"show them what it feels like" so that they won't do it to others. Never.
For some observations on how Jesus actually taught, and still teaches,
along with Scripture to back it up, please see
<http://rangernet.org/powwow/teach.htm>.
So did someone come up with a better idea than Jesus on how to teach people
to lead boys? I, for one, remain unconvinced.
As much as I respect the national leadership of Royal Rangers, I know that
they are human and could miss God from time to time, just like me.
Therefore, I propose this course of action. Let's pray for God to give the
national leadership godly wisdom and discernment on this issue. If they are
wrong, this will help them get right. If they are right, then the extra
godly wisdom and discernment certainly won't hurt them! Besides, if someone
disagreed with me, that is what I would want them to pray for me for. Let's
make the Golden Rule our daily rule, again.
Michael Paul Johnson
aka Soaring Golden Eagle
PO Box 1151, Longmont CO 80502-1151, USA
Rocky Mountain outpost 207, New Creation Church
Jesus Christ is Lord!
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